Overcap device to hold and dispense ornamental particles

ABSTRACT

An overcap device for storing and dispensing ornamental particles. The overcap device includes a closure cap for covering a recessed area used for the storage of the ornamental particles where the closure cap has an annular flange to frictionally engage the inner surface of the recessed storage area. The overcap device further includes a recessed area on the underside to removably fit on the top of a vial closure cap, where such recessed area includes flat ribs of a varying number to accept vial closure caps of inconsistent tolerances.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. Section 119(e) ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 60/484,192 filed Jun. 30, 2003. Thecontents of this application is hereby incorporated by reference intothe present disclosure.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an overcap device for packaging and dispensingloose ornamental particles. More particularly, this invention relates toan overcap device removably attached over a top end of a cylindricalvial and an easy-open top end closure covering a recessed area used forthe storage and dispensing of such ornamental particles to varioussurfaces.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventional packaging in the cosmetics industries, particularly fornail polish and enamel, typically includes a cylindrical vial with ascrew cap, to which a brush is attached. The brush is unscrewed from thecap and the brushed used to apply the polish or enamel to a surface,including fingernails and toenails. The use of ornamental particles,including glitter, powder, and crystals, in addition to plain nailpolish and enamel, have become widespread, permitting limited artisticexpression on the part of the user. Such ornamental particles wererequired to be suspended in the liquid polish or enamel in the vial, andbrushed on the surface in a combined application, or such ornamentalparticles are separately purchased and not coordinated or combined in afashionable manner.

One problem with the prior devices is that the liquid suspensionrequires constant shaking to prevent the ornamental particles fromsettling to the bottom, particularly for particles of a largerdimension.

Another problem has been that the application of such suspendedornamental particles, already disbursed in the nail polish and enamel,prevented any significant individual artistic expression in theapplication and location of such ornamental particles. Often theindividual particles would be occluded and any ornamentation would beobscured.

Another problem with prior devices is that with such ornamentalparticles being suspended in the nail polish or enamel, there isessentially no practical means to ensure particles with one ornamentalsurface and the opposite surfacing being purposed for affixing to thesurface would apply with the ornamental surface facing outward.

An additional problem with prior devices is that with such ornamentalparticles being suspended in the nail polish or enamel, or where aseparate container storing such ornamental particles is fixed to the capof the vial of nail polish or enamel, there is essentially no means tointerchange differing ornamental particles during application or whenpackaging and presenting such nail polish or enamel for sale.

Furthermore, a problem with prior devices which include a container tostore glitter particles to be applied to the nail surface using asifting means, is that the entire vial of nail polish or enamel must belifted and overturned to utilize the sifting means to apply the glitterparticles, and if not properly done, for example if the cap containerwere loose, could result in spillage of the nail polish. The siftingmeans to apply the glitter particles does not permit the detailedplacement of such particles in an ornamental design on the nail surface,and may further result in the over-application or spillage of theglitter particles.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the general purpose of the invention is to provide aremovably attached overcap device for storing ornamental particles toaid in the application of such ornamental particles to fingernails andtoenails.

A further objective of the invention is to provide a device of the kindindicated to fit over the top end of a vial for storing ornamentalparticles. The device of the kind indicated can easily be removed fromthe vial for simultaneous access to the contents of the vial and theornamental particles in the overcap device. Such overcap device caneasily be interchanged with other such overcap devices to permit easyreplacement of defective overcap devices or such overcap devices with aninsufficient supply of ornamental particles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of thekind indicated, which is not likely to result in the spillage of theornamental particle contents of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of thekind indicated, which is economical to produce and sell.

The invention achieves these objectives by providing a removablyattached handle means that contains an interior container to store theornamental particles until time for application to the intended surface.The interior container is covered by a closure cap that uses a frictionseal between the interior surface of the interior container and adownwardly dependent peripheral flange integrally attached to theclosure cap. The handle means contains a cylindrical socket to receivethe screw top of a vial, such as that which contains nail polish, andsuch cylindrical socket contains a plurality of flat ribs to create aremovable friction seal with the screw cap of the vial. The handlemeans, with or without the closure cap in place, may be removed duringthe application of the nail polish or enamel to the intended surface,and permits the interchangeability of such ornamental particles as maybe desired by the user or the manufacturer.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

Various objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome fully appreciated and better understood when considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings show the preferred embodimentof the invention, with reference characters designating the same partsthroughout the view:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating components, particularly therecessed storage compartment, in a disassembled form.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1, illustratingcomponents, particularly the downwardly depending notched peripheralflange of the cap, in a disassembled form.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the handle means in place on the top endof a vial, and with the closure cap in place.

DRAWINGS—Reference Numerals

-   12. Closure Cap-   14. Handle Means-   16. Interior Container-   18. Socket-   20. Peripheral Flange-   22. Flange Notches-   24. Screw Cap-   26. Auxiliary Holes-   28. Flat Ribs-   30. Vial-   32. Applicator Brush

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, thepreferred embodiment of the invention, an handle means 14, whichcomprises essentially an interior container 16, said interior container16 being intended to store the ornamental particles, and having socket18 on the underneath side which receives the screw top of the vial 30.In accordance with the invention, the socket 18 comprises a plurality offlat ribs 28 along the interior surface of the socket 18. The flat ribs28 permit a removable but tight fit with a screw cap 24 of some variablediameter capping the vial 30 of nail polish and enamel. The handle means14 further comprises a plurality of auxiliary holes 26 of variablelength and dimension to minimize the amount of material required tomanufacture the handle means and to reduce the total weight of thehandle means.

The interior container 16, of variable dimensions, is intended to storethe ornamental particles and present such ornamental particles forapplication to the intended surface. As provided by the invention, aclosure cap 12 comprises essentially of a downwardly dependingperipheral flange 20, with a plurality of flange notches 22 integrallyextending from an inside surface of the closure cap 12. The plurality offlange notches 22 permits some flexibility in the peripheral flange 20,which is manufactured to be the same diameter, or slightly largerdiameter than the diameter of the interior container 16, allowing for atight but removable seal of the closure cap 12 on the handle means 14.The closure cap 12 can be removed from the handle means 14 using agentle twist and pull motion providing easy access to the contents ofthe interior container 16.

Operation

In use of the device, as show in FIG. 3, the user removes the handlemeans 14 containing the ornamental particles, and closure cap 12, fromthe vial 30 of polish or enamel using a gentle back-and-forth rockingmotion, disengaging the flat ribs 28 from the screw cap 24, and therebyexposing the screw cap 24 containing the applicator brush 32. The useruses the applicator brush 32 to apply the nail polish or enamel to theintended surface. The screw cap 24 with the applicator brush 32 can bereplaced.

The closure cap 12 can be removed by a gentle pull, exposing thecontents of the interior container 16, more particularly the ornamentalparticles. The handle means 14 can be transported by the userindependent of the vial 30 of polish or enamel near any surface wheresuch ornamental particles are to be applied. The user removes thedesired number of ornamental particles and places them on the nailsurface while the nail polish or enamel adhesive is still wet.

The closure cap 12 is replaced on the handle means 14 using a gentlepushing motion, engaging the notched peripheral flange 20 to the upperportion of the interior surface of the interior container 16, securingthe ornamental particles in thereto.

The handle means 14, together with the closure cap 12 in place, isreplaced on the screw cap 24 of the vial 30. The plurality of flat ribs28 engage with the outer surface of the screw cap 24 of the vial 30 tocreate a friction-based connection to removably attach the handle means14 to the vial 30. The handle means 14 may be easily removed from itsengaged position with the screw cap 24 of the vial 30, and interchangedwith similar handle means 14 containing the same or different ornamentalparticles.

1. An overcap container assembly comprising: (a) a cylindrical interiorcontainer having an open top whereby desired particle contents can bestored, (b) a closure cap removably retained on the interior containerfor closing the open top thereof, (c) an intermittent annular peripheralflange downwardly depending from said closure cap dimensioned tofrictionally receive and partially extend around said cylindricalinterior container, and (d) a coaxially disposed handle means containingsaid cylindrical interior enabling the same to be manipulated for theremoval of the particle contents.
 2. An overcap container assembly as inclaim 1, where said handle means has a cylindrical socket adapted tofrictionally receive a screw cap of a vial.
 3. An overcap containerassembly as in claim 2 where said cylindrical socket contains aplurality of axially aligned ribs whereby a screw cap of varyingtolerances may be frictionally received.